Original Research

You have free access to this content

Magnetic resonance imaging in real time: Advances using radial FLASH†

  1. Shuo Zhang MSc,
  2. Kai Tobias Block PhD,
  3. Jens Frahm PhD*

Article first published online: 24 NOV 2009

DOI: 10.1002/jmri.21987

Issue

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Volume 31, Issue 1, pages 101–109, January 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Zhang, S., Block, K. T. and Frahm, J. (2010), Magnetic resonance imaging in real time: Advances using radial FLASH. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging, 31: 101–109. doi: 10.1002/jmri.21987

Author Information

  1. Biomedizinische NMR Forschungs GmbH am Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen, Germany

*Biomedizinische NMR Forschungs GmbH am Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, 37070 Göttingen, Germany

  1. †

    Biomedizinische NMR Forschungs GmbH am Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen, Germany

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 20 DEC 2009
  2. Article first published online: 24 NOV 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 28 SEP 2009
  4. Manuscript Received: 24 MAR 2009

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article with Supporting Information (HTML) Get PDF (542K)

Keywords:

  • real-time MRI;
  • cardiovascular MRI;
  • temporomandibular joint;
  • radial MRI

Abstract

Purpose

To develop technical advances for real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that allow for improved image quality and high frame rates.

Materials and Methods

The approach is based on a combination of fast low-angle shot (FLASH) MRI sequences with radial data sampling and view sharing of successive acquisitions. Gridding reconstructions provide images free from streaking or motion artifacts and with a flexible trade-off between spatial and temporal resolution. Immediate image reconstruction and online display is accomplished with the use of an unmodified 3 T MRI system. For receive coils with a large number of elements this process is supported by a user-selectable channel compression that is based on a principal component analysis and performed during initial preparation scans.

Results

In preliminary applications to healthy volunteers, real-time radial FLASH MRI visualized continuous movements of the temporomandibular joint during voluntary opening and closing of the mouth at high spatial resolution (0.75 mm in-plane) and monitored cardiac functions at high temporal resolution (20 images per second) during free breathing and without synchronization to the electrocardiogram.

Conclusion

Real-time radial FLASH MRI emerges as a simple and versatile tool for a large range of clinical applications. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc

View Full Article with Supporting Information (HTML) Get PDF (542K)